Top 5 Cools Things To Do This Holiday Break

Sit back and relax.  Here are the top 5 cool things you can do this holiday break.  Of course you know I’m talking about cool steps that will recharge your math teaching mojo and have you ready and raring to charge into 2016 with renewed vigor and a fail-safe plan for success!  We’re talkin’ Rockstar Ready!
So with no further ado, here is the list……

#5 Give yourself one to two hours to wrap up your 2015 work.  This means grading papers, and all that related work you have at the end of a semester.  However….make it a party. 

Invite friends, family, and/or other teachers to join you.  Serve party food and drink.  Keep that part simple. Keep it all simple. Perform triage on your work.  Decide what part you must do. What part can responsible capable adults do?  What part can younger responsible people do?  What part can you scrap?  Yes, what part can you just pitch? Set a timer and let the games begin.  Offer a prize to the group that completes their tasks first.  You will certainly mark this holiday as the year you learned to delegate and focus on the 20% that matters!  (If you need help on how to do the triage, see # 1 below!)


#4 Reflect on 2015.  List the ten+ best things about first semester.  Ideas: lessons that went really well, ideas from colleagues you want to implement, things you learned how to do, big ahas, relationships you built, etc.  Write these down as evidence that you are having a great year so far.  Why not continue? (Bring this list to #1 to share!)


#3 Visualize how you want your school year to unfold.  To do this, find a quiet place where you will be unbothered by noise and interruptions.  Listening to peaceful music without lyrics through earbuds is a great enhancement!
 
When you’re all comfy and ready, close your eyes and picture yourself on the last day of school talking to your closest friend about how your school year ended.  Include not just events, but lots of details involving color, sound, emotions, smells, and touch.  What are you saying to your friend, and how are they responding? 

When you’ve spent a pleasurable time doing this, get out some paper and write a letter to yourself dated on the last day of school.  In the letter, write the same account you just told your friend, or make it even better!  Seal the letter in an envelope and put it where you will remember to read it on the last day of school.  Powerful!!! (I have some more tips for you on how to make visualization fun and super productive!  See #1.)


#2 Identify Obstacles you can turn into opportunities. Here’s what happens for most of us.  As soon as we say what we want, thoughts pop up to tell us why and how we can’t have it.  I call it “yeah buts.”

So for this activity, pick the one big but (lol) that comes up when you think about your visualization letter.  Now write down 5 silver linings to this cloud.  If you get on a roll, don’t stop at five.  Keep going!
​
Next, read your silver linings out loud, and follow up with identifying your next step toward the opportunity that lies within the silver linings. I guarantee if you do this with a positive intention, you will come up with at least one positive next step!  (If you need some support on figuring out your silver linings, join me on #1!!)
 
#1  Join me on the Top 5 Cool Things To Do This Holiday Break Party Call! 
Details!!

• Monday, December 28 at 7:00 pm CST
• Call in on the RED Hot MATH Private Conference Line to join!
• Get clarity on the steps you read about in this article.
• Craft a three step plan for your visualized vision.
• Take the RED Hot MATH Seat and get your questions answered.
• BONUS: You could win a free admission to the next RED Hot MATH Course just by attending this party! (a $597 value)

You don’t have to worry about remembering all this now.  I’ll send out a couple more reminders before the party!